Points of Historical Interest
by Lucy Kortum

San Mateo County

San Mateo Coastal Geology Maps
Coastal Conservancy Projects in San Mateo County
Sources

• San Mateo: County formed in 1856 from southern portion of San Francisco County; name honors St. Matthew. A 1868 southern boundary adjustment gave land from Santa Cruz to San Mateo.

• Philip Burton Memorial Beach: Begins in San Francisco County below Fort Funston, named for San Francisco Congressman Phil Burton whose vision resulted in establishment of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in the 1970's.

• Thornton State Beach: Named for early owner, farmer and county supervisor Robert Thornton; extensive damage upland portion of beach, due to 1982 storms and subsequent landslides, demonstrates hazards of building on the historically unstable soil.

• Mussel Rock: Visible road cut of abandoned Ocean Shore Railroad.

• Ocean Shore Railroad: From 1908-1920 provided access from San Francisco to Santa Cruz.

• Sharp Park Pier and Beach: Site of early roadhouses, and 1973 municipal pier.

• Pacifica: Incorporated in 1957 to include nine coastal communities from Edgemar to Linda Mar. Was site of Ohlone Indian village; Sanchez Adobe of 1846 was residence of San Francisco commander Don Francisco Sanchez; historic relics displayed in museum.

• Calera Creek: Site of 1700's lime pits which produced whitewash for Presidio of San Francisco.

• Rockaway Beach: Limestone and greenstone quarry at north end of beach has been in operation since 1904.

• (Nearby) Sweeney Ridge: Site from which soldiers from Portola expedition first saw San Francisco Bay in 1769.

• (Nearby) Devil's Slide: Steep cliffs consisting of mostly sedimentary rock along west side of San Pedro Mountain, historically slides in earthquake and storm conditions; recent plans call for tunnel through the slide area. Old Ocean Shore railroad route.

• Old San Pedro Mountain Road: Historic road on east side of San Pedro Mountain prior to construction of Highway 1 along coast.

• Point Montara Light Station: From 1875 ships were warned of the submerged rocks of Montara Point by a steam whistle, in 1900 by an oil lamp light, and in 1928 by a 30-foot tower later supplemented with a Fresnel lens. Now automated, the lighthouse is open to visitors and the adjacent buildings have been converted into a youth hostel.

• Pillar Point / Pillar Point Harbor: Sheltered by Pillar Point, the only protected harbor between San Francisco and Santa Cruz was an 1860's whaling station used by sailors from the Azores Breakwaters added in 1961 and 1967 add to its safety.

• Princeton: Formerly known as Old Landing and Princeton-by-the-Sea, was commercial fishing and boat building center; Princeton Inn, 1908 Mission Revival resort hotel and now on National Register, was center for Prohibition era run running.

• El Granada Beach: 1906 vision for resort laid out by nationally famed planner Daniel Burnham counted on boom from Ocean Shore Railroad. Street pattern still exists.

• Half Moon Bay: Settled by Spanish immigrants in 1840, the oldest town in San Mateo County was then called San Benito and later Spanishtown. Broad marine terraces promote a wide variety of agricultural specialty crops. Historic homes date from 1853. Pilarcitos Creek Bridge of 1900 was first reinforced concrete bridge in the county.

• Purisima: At Verde Road and Highway 1, only a cemetery remains of historic and prosperous Purisima established in 1853; site of early Ohlone village.

• Lobitas: Historic town site opposite private Martin's Beach. Lobitos, "little wolf," is thought to refer to the lobo marino, sea wolf or seal.

• Tunitas Beach: Site of Ohlone Indian village, Portola expedition 1769 campsite; Gordon's Chute, 45 degree angle chute constructed by Alexander Gordon for loading produce and lumber on waiting ships, destroyed by storm in 1885.

• San Gregorio: Historic village, 1900's resort. San Gregorio was name of original land grant.

• San Gregorio Beach: Also Ohlone village and Portola camp.

• Pomponio State Beach: Named for Ohlone chief Pomponio who fought Spanish settlers and Mission padres.

• Pescadero State Beach: Another 1769 Portola encampment; later a launching site for whaling boats.

• (Nearby) Pescadero: Ohlone village, later settled by Italian and Portuguese farmers; name means "fishing place." Noted for white buildings, continuation of tradition started with white paint salvaged from 1896 wreck of SS Columbia. Old architecture includes Greek Revival church, a California Historical Landmark.

• Pigeon Point Lighthouse: Steam operated whistle was installed in 1871 and the 115-foot lighthouse, second tallest on the west coast was built in 1872. Name changed from Whale Point after 1853 wreck of clipper ship Carrier Pigeon. Site of whaling station in 1880's and lumber and produce shipment until 1920's. Hostel is adjacent to lighthouse.

• Gazos Creek: Another 1769 Portola camp.

• Franklin Point: Named for clipper ship Sir John Franklin which crashed on the rocks in 1865.

• Año Nuevo State Reserve: "New Years Point" commemorates sighting by Vizcaino expedition on January 3, 1603, but the Ohlone's first encounter with Europeans was with Portola expedition. Later settlers included mountain man Isaac Graham and 1862 Steel Brothers Dairy, one building of which now serves as visitors center. A fog whistle installed on Año Nuevo Island in 1872, and a light tower in 1890, were replaced by an automated buoy in 1948.